Oppositely swinging railway hopper valves



Oct. 15, 1968 G. B. DOREY OPPOSITELY SWINGING RAILWAY HOPPER VALVES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 9, 1966 INVENTOR. GEORGE 8. DORE) AGENT Get. 15, 1968 5. B. DOREY OPPOSITELY SWINGING RAILWAY HOPPER VALVES 4 Sheets-Shem Filed May 9, 1966 INVENTOR.

GEORGE 5. 001m m Dn- 5 Oct. 15, 1968 G. B. DOREY v 3,405,656

OPPOSITELY SWINGING RAILWAY HOPPER VALVES Filed May 9. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 6

INVENTOR GEORGE E. DORE Y AGENT G. B. DOREY Oct. 15, 1968 OPPOSITELY SWINGING RAILWAY HOPPER VALVES 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 9, 1966 INVENTOR.

GEORGE E. DORE) m awfh M mm mm 0% United States PatentQ PPOSITELY SWINGING RAILWAY HOPPER VALVES George B. Dorey, Westmount, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Continental Transport Appliances Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a corporation of Canada Filed May 9, 1966, Ser. No. 548,809 6 Claims. (Cl. 105-253) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Oppositely swinging doors or valves for a railway car hopper with operating means comprising an operative shaft on one door by which an over center toggle mechanism interconnecting the doors is extended and jackknifed to open and close the doors. The toggle is overcenter in both open and closed position to lock the doors in each position. When the toggle is tripped in the open position the doors close by gravity whereby they may be closed while the car is in motion.

The invention contemplates a reversal of the generally accepted loading and unloading procedure involving the opening movement of pivotally mounted drop doors under the influence of gravity and the subsequent raising of said doors to closed position by direct manual effort. The employment of pivotally mounted drop doors generally results in disposing the swinging ends of the doors, when in open position, at such a low level that the door closing operation becomes mandatory before car movement takes place. The system of closing the doors prior to movement of a train of empty cars after unloading involves costly delays in train movements and is especially objectionable when loading ships directly from the cars,

It is one of the objects of the invention among others to provide a system of oppositely swinging valves which are biased to normally gravitate to closed position and to provide mechanism for retaining said valves in open position against the influence of gravity; to provide oppositely swinging valves adapted to meet in overlapping relation; to provide a combination of operating shaft and linkage carried by the valves and so arranged as to swing the overlapped valve to closed position in advance of the overlapping valve; to provide overcenter toggle locking mechansm for automatically locking oppositely swinging valves in closed position; and to provide wayside actuating means for cooperating with trigger means for releasing the valves from open position by movement of the car.

A specific object of the invention is to provide valves for a discharge opening operable to control the discharge of lading whereby the valves may be held in position to discharge the lading under controlled flow.

The invention further resides in the combination and arrangement of linkage and mechanism parts whereby the desired results are obtained as will be fully described hereinafter and claimed.

For further comprehension of the invention reference maybe had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the lower portion of part of a hopper car showing an outlet with the valves in closed position and another outlet with the valves in open and held position and indicating wayside tripping means in relation to trigger means on the car for release of the holding mechanism by movement of the car.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on a line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fractional view on an enlarged scale of FIGURE 2 showing as much as necessary to show the pivotal mounting structure of the valves.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale showing the valves in full opened and 'held position by the overcenter toggle locked mechanism.

FIGURE 5 is a detached plan view of the toggle mechanism shown in FIGURE 4. p

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view similar toFIG- URE 4 except that the valves'are shown in fully closed position with the jacknife locking mechanism in overcenter toggle locked position.

FIGURE 7 is an elevational 'view of theend portion of the structure shown in FIGURE 6 as viewed from right to left.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURES 4 and6 except that the parts are shown positioned with the overlapped valve in fully closed position and the overlapping valve moved towards closed position under the influence of gravity supplemented by the downwardly swinging effect of the overbalanced operating mechanism parts.

FIGURE 9 is another view similar to FIGURE 8 except that the parts are shown with the valves as being wedged open by the lading resting upon the tangentially related downwardly converging flat end portions of the valve floors in combination with the weight of the mechanism parts operating to spread the valves to the fully opened position.

In said drawings the rails on which the hopper car is movable are indicated at AA and the trucks are indicated by a side frame shown in conventional dot and dash lines at B with wheels of the car indicated at C.

The body of the car proper generally includes sloping side floors 10 and sloping end floors 11 which converge inwardly and downwardly to direct lading centrally between the rails and over and beyond the wheels. The car body is reinforced by longitudinally extending side sills 12 and a series of transverse ridges 13 having opposite sloping walls 14-14 serve to divide the car into a series of hopper sections. The sloping Walls 1414 in cooperation with the sloping side and end floors 10 and 11 respectively combine to form inverted truncate shaped hopper sections indicated at 15 for the end hopper and at 16 for the intermediate hopper.

Inasmuch as the end and intermediate hopper sections are of similar construction the description herein will be confined to an intermediate section 16.

The said inverted truncate shaped hopped section 16 as formed by sloping transverse floors 1414 and sloping side floors 10-10 is bordered by an outlet assembly incorporating the improvements.

The outlet assembly includes a frame formed in part by walls as indicated at 17 and 18 respectively. The said walls are united to form a four-sided discharge area adapted to be closed by oppositely swinging valves indicated at 19 and 20.

Each wall 17 includes an upper flange section 21 disposed to underlie the sloping fioor 14 and 21 depending substantially vertical wall portion 22 reinforced at its lower end by an angle shaped reinforcement 23 formed of walls 24 and 25 and secured in place by welding as seen at 26 and 27.

'Each wall 18 at its upper end includes angularly related Walls 28 and 29 with wall 28 underlying the sloping floor 10 and wall 29 sloping downwardly outwardly to merge into a vertically extending wall section 30. The lower end of the section 30 is fitted on its outer side with an angle-shaped reinforcement 31. There is thus formed by the vertically extending wall sections 22 and 30 a foursided enclosure which defines an unobstructed four-sided chute-like extension forming discharge opening 32.

An angle shaped element 33 which includes flanges 34 and 35 is secured to the wall 29 by welding flange 34 thereto as seen at 36 and the adjacent flange is ex tended to underlie the sloping wall 10.

Discharge of lading from the opening 32 is controlled by the swinging valves 19 and 20 which are pivotally mounted on pintles 37 disposed well above the lower part of the opening and spaced inwardly of the wall sections 22. Each valve formed with end Walls 38-38 and intermediate said end walls there is disposed a floor 39 having a central section 40 of generally arcuate contour concentrically related to the pivotal axes of the pintles 37 and tangentially related end sections leading from said central section 40 as indicated at 41 and 42 for valve 19 and at 43 and 44 for valve 20.

The structure concerned with the pivotal mounting of the valves comprise hub-like sleeves 45 apertured for receiving pintles 37 and disposed at the upper end of each end wall 38. The hinge pintles 37 are supported by inner and outer hinge plates as shown at 46 and 47 respectively. Each inner hinge plate 46 is carried by a plate member 48 disposed in the angle formed by walls 28 and 29. The outer hinge plate 47 is carried by an angle shaped shield member 49 formed of walls 50 and 51 with wall 50 extending laterally outwardly from section 30 and welded thereto at 52 and to the plate member 48 at 53. The adjacent Wall 51 is juxtaposed to the end wall section 30 and spaced therefrom to form a housing within which end wall 38 of the related valve is received when the latter is in closed position. A cap plate 54 overlies the upper end of the hood structure thus presenting with walls 50 and 51 a protective shielding enclosure within which the valve end wall 38 is adapted to swing to closed position.

The supporting pintles 37 are carried by walls 46, 50 and 47 and held in place by a keeper plate 55 welded at 56 to the outer hinge plate 47.

The marginal edges of walls 38 are reinforced by inwardly turned flanges 57 and 58 and flange 57 is adapted to register when the valve is in closed position with a bar strip 59 extending laterally outwardly from wall section 30 to prevent entry of contaminating matter.

The oppositely swinging valve members 19 and 20 are adapted to meet midway of the discharge opening 32 in overlapping relation and to this end are formed with reversely extending end sections as seen at 60 for valve 19 and at 61 for valve 20. The edges of the valve floor plates distal from the meeting ends are reinforced by angle shaped members 62 disposed with one flange 63 overlying the upper face of the floor plate and the adjacent flange 64 extending at a normal to said floor plate. Upon closing movement of the valves the edge 65 of flange 63 is adapted to contact the outer face 66 of wall 30.

A hollow tubular shaft 67 is carried by valve 19 and rotatably mounted in bearings 68 located adjacent the meeting end of the valve structures and in the angle formed by the reversely bent overlying portion 60 of the floor. Radially extending operating arm means 69 are non-rotatably mounted at the respective ends of the shaft 67 and a link 70 pivotally connects at 72 with the distal end of said arm means and the opposite end of the link 70 pivotally connects with the opposite valve 20 at 77 through the medium of an adjustably mounted eyebolt 73 and screw threaded nuts 74. The radially extending operating arms 69 preferably include a pair of plates 75-75 between which the link 70 is sandwiched. The link 70 is indented at 76 to extend over the shaft 67 and provide an overcenter locking connection along line 77 when the valves are in closed position as seen in FIG- URE 6. The arms and links are swingable to an overcenter toggle locked straightened position along line 78 as seen in FIGURE 3 for retaining the valves in open position against the influence of gravity. Interengaging abutments 79 and 80 are incorporated in the radial arms and links respectively for limiting straightened relation of the mechanism.

A hollow socket 81 extends from the outer face of the operating arms for accommodating a removal bar (not shown) for effecting rotation of the shaft.

The valve members 19 and 20 as seen in FIGURE 4 are swung to open position clear of the wall portions 22 and with thereinforcing members 62 adapted '.to contact striker plates 62a on the underside of sloping floors 14 and thus operate to jar loose any lading adhering to the sloping floors. With the valves in opened position as seen in FIGURE 4 a train of empty cars may be moved after unloading regardless of the position of the valves. The inter-connection between the valves, as provided by the straightened mechanism, allows for limited oscillating movementof the'pair of opened 'valv'es which allows impingementof the ends 62 of the valves on thestriker plates 62a on shunting shocks and thereby shakes 0E residual lading in the hopper prior to closing the valves.

To automatically release the straightened linkage and permit closing movement of the valves adownwardly extending trigger arm 82is provided on one of the arms 69 for engagement by a wayside deflector 83 having oppositely inclined ramp surfaces 84-84. The said deflector is preferably located between the rails adjacent a wheel of the car as seen in FIGURE 2.

The weight balance of the valves and the location of the shaft and mechanism parts are so arranged and related as to bias the overlapped valve 20 to closed position in advance of the overlapping valve 19. The location of the operating shaft adjacent the meeting edge of valve 19 normally locates the center of gravity midway between the center of the valve and the axis of the shaft thereby effecting swinging movement of the valve in a closing direction by gravity to the extent of overbalancing the operating arm as shown in FIGURE 8. The factors assuring closing movement of one valve in advance of the other can be seen by reference to FIGURE 7 wherein the overlapped valve is shown as having come to closed position and the angular relation between the operating arms and links such that the lifting effort on the one valve exerts a downward resultant force on the shaft which causes the latter to lag. 1

The operation and advantages of the improvement may be best understood by following out the sequence of movements involved in one closing and opening operation. Upon release of the overcenter toggle straightened position of the arm and linkage as seen in FIGURE 4, the pair of valves swing downwardly and inwardly under the influence of gravity. Continued downward and inward swinging of the valves operates to first swing the overlapped valve towards closed position while the shaft lies in suspension beneath the hinge pivot until valve 20 reaches the closed position and into seating relation with the marginal edge of the end walls, as seen in FIGURE 8. The linkage mechanism then swings into overbalanced position and the weight of the overbalanced mechanism parts becomes operative as a jacknife closing force to swing the mechanism to the overcenter toggle locked final position as seen in FIGURE 6.

The Opening operation of the valves is effected by a half revolution of the shaft against the influence of gravity. The relation of the concentrically related central floor portion 40 to the axis of swing holds the valves in any adjusted position throughout the major extend of swinging movement of the valves as the said concentric floor portions of the valve floors sweep along the lading. The controlled opening movement continues until the flat portions 41 and 43 present a funnel-like chute for the flow of lading therebetween as indicated in FIGURE 9. The flow of lading between the fiat surfaces operates to separate the facing valves and in combination with the weight of the operating arms and linkage forces the valves to full open position for retention by the straightened lock ing mechanism as seen in FIGURE 4. I I

The flat tangential portions 41 and 43 further provide for generous clearance when the valves are fully open,

between the marginal edges 85 of the walls 22 and the upper face of the valve floors as indicated at 86 for complete clearance of residual lading adhering to the floors of the valves.

What I claim is:

1. In a railway car having an opening for discharge of lading, in combination:

(a) oppositely swinging valves for closing the opening and controlling discharge of lading through said opening,

(b) said valves having floors with edges adapted to meet in closed position midway of the opening,

(0) means for conjointly swinging the valves including:

(1) an operating shaft rotatably mounted on one of the valves adjacent the meeting location of the floors of the valves,

(2) arms non-rotatably mounted at one end to the opposite ends of the shaft and radially extending therefrom,

(3) and links pivotally connected at one end with the other end of each radial arm and having their opposite ends pivotally connected with the other valve,

(4) said radial arms and links being adapted to jackknife in folded and over center toggle relation to lock the valves in closed position, and to straighten to an overcenter toggle position to lock the valves in open position against the influence of gravity.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein the oppositely swinging valves overlap midway of the discharge opening when in closed position.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein the op erating shaft is located on the overlapping valve to swing the overlapped valve to closed position in advance of said overlapping valve 4. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein a depending arm extends downwardly from at least one of the straightened arms and links when the valves are held in open position, said depending arm being adapted to engage a trackside ramp to release the links to cause automatic return of the valves to closed position, whereby the valves close and lock of their own volition while said railway car is in motion.

5. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein the gravitational movement of the valves operates to swing the operating arms and links to an overbalanced position and dispose the overbalanced weight of said arms and links as an operating force to complete closing movement of the valves.

6. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein (a) the central portion of the valve floors are concentrically related to the pivotal axis of the valves, and

(b) said valve floor adjacent their meeting ends are provided with tangentially related flat floor sections whereby (c) said fiat portion present a funnel-like chute for discharge of lading therethrough as said valves approach open position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 543,182 7/1895 Hunt 222-503 1,135,993 4/1915 Chambers -283 X 1,294,051 2/1919 Clark 105253 1,627,256 5/1927 Smith 105-282 X ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. H, BELTRAN, Assistant Examiner, 

